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‘BIRDS’ GREENER PASTURES END!

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My dearest readers ... Psalms 118:24 reads: This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.


That’s the gospel according to the SwaziBank Cup where there are no guarantees; a tournament that is played true to its knockout nature where there are shocks, upsets, wondrous goals, scintillating football, palpable enjoyment, raw emotions and most importantly, the reincarnation of the romantic biblical story line where the little David’s land that precious blow to the lardy Goliaths.


On Sunday, as one female Mbabane Swallows fan wept endlessly like an abandoned baby on the grandstand at the sound of referee, Mbongiseni Fakudze’s final whistle, the club’s bench watching in utter dismay, Green Mamba players and supporters storming onto the pitch joined at the hip by overjoyed sworn rivals, Mbabane Highlanders, it was a watershed moment.


It was eerie parallel to the unforgettable Sunday afternoon of March 5, 2017 when modest Matsapha United, still a National First Division side then, sent shockwaves around the country when they ended Swallows’ 26-match unbeaten run in all competitions by knocking the ‘Birds out of the SwaziBank Cup Last 16 stage.


Somhlolo National Stadium is yet to witness such hyperbole celebrations as the ‘Van Damme’ of local football was slayed mercilessly. Even those who would never set foot in a local stadium even if they were attacked by a pack of bullterriers celebrated wildly on that memorable night when Swallows’ crunching defeat dominated all dinner table conversations around the country.

There is no iota of doubt that the Swallows of Mbabane’s complete dominance had even irked those who have no business or attachment to Swazi football whatsoever. 


This State-of-The-Nation-Sports-Address (SONSA) articulated then that modest Matsapha United had given us everything we love about football – the faith, idealism, athleticism, unpredictability and the beauty of the sport which is that there are no foregone conclusions.

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